More Pre-Release BlackBerrys Appear on eBay

After word of a BlackBerry Javelin popped up on eBay, I was eager to see what else I could find floating around in the online auction world. Could there be any more pre-release devices for realz, or a bunch for shamz? Read On for my adventures!

I wasn't expecting to find much, but it took only a few clicks to turn up a total of twoBlackBerry Javelin's, five Blackberry Thunders and a shiny unlocked BlackBerry Pearl 8220 "Kickstart". Now mind you, I have no intention of buying any of these items, but if you happen to have $1,600 lying around, you can supposedly grab an unlocked BlackBerry Thunder - listed as a GSM model that will work on both AT&T or T-Mobile. Or if thats too steep, how about a mere $880 for a Kickstart (not even listed as a Pearl 8220).

If you do some homework (check that the images are original and real, look at the sellers rating and feedback, etc.) you can get a fairly good idea if it's a legit auction or somebody trying to make a quick buck, so it all comes down to a Buyer Beware and a bit of a gamble. I personally wouldn't go near any of them.

You can't win if you don't play though. So if you are willing to take a risk, you can always try your luck, make a bid, and maybe you'll win the auction and pick one up. Kevin's luck wasn't so bad in snagging a Bold, so you never know. But keep in mind Kevin's Bold was only fully functioning for a couple of days before RIM killed the PIN on him, turning it into a not so smart smartphone. And the word of late is that RIM disables the PINs from any pre-release phones once the device becomes commercially available. So to the lucky person who pays thousands of dollars for that Javelin, I hope you enjoy the device a lot, since it likely will not be fully-functioning for all that long. It seems to me the only people who would be crazy enough to make that kind of an investment into a phone with a short life span would be a hedge fund manager (who is going to rip it apart the moment he takes delivery to see who's sourcing all of the components and try to make some cash off the knowledge) or a rich dude from Dubai (don't we all wish we could say "Money is No Object")!

As of now, one of the Javelin auctions appears to have been pulled, but the original auction is still running and is now up to over $3,000. Update: Oh wait, what's this, JUST IN..another Javelin auction! Only $430 at the moment... it won't be for long.

And the Kickstart is still up for grabs, and after 13 bids is still a cheap $880 (the last Kickstart sold for $1725!). I'd defintiely steer clear of the $1,600 "GSM" Thunder models. As much as we'd all like to get our hands on one, these auctions all scream sham Sham SHAM!

Check out some screens from eBay with the new devices:

Of the five Thunder's listed, four as stated as GSM devices, while the one that is shown as being for Verizon has a screenshot from a device that is far from any Blackberry.

Two Blackberry Javelin's - one has since been pulled by eBay

Pearl 8220 "Kickstart" - maybe the only legit one in the bunch

And if you do happen to buy one of these devices and take delivery, be sure to send an email into editorial @ crackberry.com and let us know all about it!

Reader comments

More Pre-Release BlackBerrys Appear on eBay

I mean, come on. $4000+ to buy a fricken Javelin?! Just because you can get it before everybody else?

Take that money and give it to charity. Buy a bunch of phones for people who can use them...single, working mothers. It's a shame when I see somebody buying something for more than what they will get it for eventually. 10 times more.

I agree with you. I don't know who would pay the price for the BBs that are up on eBay. I mean, maybe if I won the lotto and just HAD to have it, yes. Then again, I also want to know what freakin' job these people have to be able to dump $4K+ on a phone?!?

And, if like in the thread yesterday, the PINs are locked and the device cannot be hooked up, why? Why bother buying it?

At least on the one Javelin, there are pictures of it with the device ON so you can actually see that it does work. But is it a test device? What?

Did two quick searches (BlackBerry Thunder, BlackBerry Storm) on ebay and nothing but hoaxes. Most are for "pre-sale." You are paying what you would expect to pay for a "in the wild" device. But in actuality, you are just overpaying to receive a phone WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY RELEASED. My favorite was the one currently selling for $50, and 3 bids(ebay-250293109070), which does look like you are purchasing a Storm/Thunder but there is one line in tiny print saying that you are purchasing a yahoo email address. LOL

The world has gotten so caught up on eletronic devices that they're willing to pay thousands of dollars for a phone that will get "old" in about a year or two! And they'll be looking for a new one to play with. A shame. Buying it that high just so you can have it before everyone else does? Does this exclusivity really make people feel better? It's sad how people can waste money on these things when there are so many other USEFUL things you can use it for! Ah well, I'll just wait to get mine when I have the money to spare and when it's actual release has the price marked down. Great find though Adam!

I agree that it's stupid. But..if you have the money and won't miss it, then why not? Who's to say they don't already give to charity or whatever? I would never, but I can't tell people how to spend their money.

Yeah, I've had a rough time calling it a *cough* pearl *cough*. Espeically as I rock an original Pearl 8100. But truthfully it did KickStart the unveiling of the RIM lineup this time around. (I sure hope they're using Motley Crue's KickStart my Heart for the ads... :) )

YESSSS!!!! I can't wait to spend thousands on a phone that i'm going to want to upgrade in 6 months when something better comes out! Not to mention I just have the cash laying around me. WOOOOOOOO!!!!

Yeah right! Thats a down payment on a new car!!! The phone will probably come out starting at like $500 at the VERY most! What makes these people think that they're gunna get the actual phone after paying that much? Not only that but the eBay listings with the Thunder are complete scams! Doesn't the thunder run CDMA and not EDGE? Therefor they can't be "unlocked"? Hmmmm.....?

Thats a good one dude!!

P.S.
The kickstart is now $905 guys!!! I will outbid all of you!!! MUAH HA HA HA!

Yeah rite.....You would never tell anybody that I paid over $1000.00 for a phone. I don't care if I was a billionaire..it just ain't happening. I agree with one of the previous comments. I can find more to do with $4000.00 than buy a phone.

Something is wrong when you look at that price lose sleep trying to find a way to get it. Very sad and sick.

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